Chapter 273: Method

Chapter 273 The Method

Not long after leaving the inn, Li Huowang arrived once more at the residence of the highest authority in all of Pi County, the county yamen gate guarded by two stone lions and a large drum.

This time Li Huowang had no intention of sneaking in, but instead walked openly to the entrance and asked someone inside to report to the magistrate.

Perhaps others doing this would have been thrown out as unreasonable ruffians making trouble.

But when Li Huowang, carrying two long swords on his back, wearing a copper coin mask on his face, and clad in a red Taoist robe, stated directly that he could resolve the trouble of shrinking yin and yang plaguing all of Pi County, he was immediately respectfully invited inside.

Magistrate Yang Hongzhi of Pi County lifted the blue-and-white porcelain tea saucer, used the lid to push aside the tea leaves floating on the water, and carefully took a sip.

Taking advantage of the tea drinking moment, he re-examined the strange man before him; the other party's attire was very peculiar, truly making it hard for him to guess the stranger's origin.

Through information gathered by Captain Luo, this person came to Pi County together with a troupe performing pink opera, and judging by the direction, they must have come from Qingqiu.

Most critically, this person claimed he could solve the shrinking yin and yang, a torment that had plagued him for so long.

His own son was still suffering, so even if there was a sliver of possibility, he had to try.

While Yang Hongzhi observed Li Huowang, Li Huowang also kept the other party's various expressions under observation.

After carefully analyzing the meaning behind the expressions on this man's face, Li Huowang had an idea in his heart and knew what to do next.

"Magistrate Yang, tell me, what exactly is going on? The Bureau is busy and has no idle time to waste." Li Huowang spoke first to break the strange atmosphere between the two.

In order to understand the details of this evil spirit causing the shrinking condition as quickly as possible, and to gain the assistance of the entire Pi County Yamen, saying anything else would be empty and might not work, so Li Huowang planned to directly impersonate the Sky Monitoring Bureau.

Under these circumstances, as the father and mother official of a county, encountering such a huge problem, he would surely notify the Sky Monitoring Bureau.

Since the problem still existed, either the Sky Monitoring Bureau was not there, or people came but did not solve the trouble, so he could take advantage of this gap to achieve his purpose.

Upon hearing Li Huowang mention the Bureau, Magistrate Yang was suddenly scalded by the tea in his hand; he clumsily placed the tea onto the table, clasped his hands together, and bowed excitedly toward Li Huowang.

"Heavens! The Ministry of Rites has finally sent you out! Oh my, oh my, I waited until I died! I sent at least a hundred carrier pigeon letters! Every time they told me to stabilize the people's hearts and await good news, but I cannot even stabilize my own heart, how can I stabilize the people's hearts!"

Seeing Yang Hongzhi constantly complaining to him, Li Huowang's suspended heart settled somewhat; seeing the other believed him, he threw aside another set of prepared words in his mind.

"Enough, Magistrate Yang, no time for idle chat, tell me the cause and effect of this matter from beginning to end, how exactly did this so-called shrinking arrive? And from what time did it begin?"

Compared to that waiter, this magistrate certainly knows more; to deal with the invisible and intangible ghost that has already targeted him, he must understand more.

"Sigh! This has to start from Ghost Festival day this year, at Dead Man's Slope five li east of the county, there was a watchman who ah--"

Speaking of this, the Magistrate suddenly remembered something, his open mouth stopped abruptly, and fear appeared on his face.

"Continue speaking, what exactly happened?" Li Huowang's body leaned forward slightly, questioning him.

Facing Li Huowang's question, the Magistrate began to change the subject, bowing to Li Huowang again with a conflicted expression.

"Master, you must save the people of Pi County! This concerns everyone's lives!"

Li Huowang was about to ask again but suddenly stopped; he understood what the other was worried about, this person's concern was the same as the dead waiter before.

"Are you afraid that by opening your mouth, that ghost will come after you? Rest assured, as long as you speak boldly, since I am here, I can definitely help you handle it properly."

Who knew, upon hearing this, Magistrate Yang not only showed no joy on his face but jumped three feet high, running away from Li Huowang's side as if dodging a plague god.

Not long after, he returned with several constables dressed in green clothes, each holding a small bronze gong, and behind every small bronze gong hung a red cloth packet.

They surrounded Li Huowang, beating continuously. He was muttering words in his mouth. "If there is a monster, do not blame, do not blame the one handling affairs! If there is a monster, do not blame, do not blame the one handling affairs!!"

Li Huowang watched the other party's ridiculous actions, his expression very strange. "What are you doing? Could this method solve that invisible ghost?"

Hearing Li Huowang's words, Magistrate Yang nodded constantly.

Li Huowang then discovered that each of them held a large iron clip in their hands, firmly clamping their middle fingers, refusing to let go even though the fingers were pinched purple.

One of the constables, sweating profusely from beating the gong, turned around, looked at Li Huowang, and said anxiously: "Hurry! You have been targeted by that thing! If you don't want to die from shrinking! Quickly learn from us! We are grasshoppers on the same string, how could I harm you?"

These words made Li Huowang's body tighten instantly; he reached out to take the bronze gong and similarly began spinning around while beating the gong.

For some reason, this series of events in Pi County made him strangely feel a sense of familiarity, a feeling of familiarity yet disgust.

While he was thinking, the others surrounding him began new movements.

They hung the red ropes in their hands around their necks, hanging on their backs like turtles, then immediately got on all fours and crawled around the round table.

This scene was both strange and absurd, and more importantly, the others were casting urgent glances at him, urging him to follow suit.

"Is this really effective? Where exactly did they learn that this thing works against that ghost stealing life roots?"

Just as Li Huowang was holding the bronze gong hanging on his neck, the others suddenly spread their legs like dogs urinating.

They were not urinating, but rather took off their pants, grabbed a handful of red chili powder from behind the bronze gong, and sprinkled it on their life roots.

Even though they grimaced from the burning spice, these people dared not slacken, continuing to carry the bronze gongs and crawl on the ground, sprinkling as they crawled.

"True Person, hurry over! Quickly learn from me! If you don't learn! You won't live much longer!!"

Looking at such an absurd and ridiculous scene before him, Li Huowang, brows furrowed, walked over, slowly squatted down, and reached out to grasp a handful of chili powder.

Hesitating for a moment, he slowly opened his hand, watching the bright red chili powder float from his palm to the ground.

"Why do I feel this is too fake? Even if this world has gone mad, this is too outrageous? It's fucking like playing around!!"

(End of Chapter)